The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-04-28
WASHINGTON T
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. d. c.,
April. 25th. 1887.


The week has been a quiet one
in Washington, but
when one comes to think of it,
much of interest has ~transpired,
and the President, at least, a tes-
tify that the drafts upon his at
tention have been sufficient to oc-
cupy every moment of his time
In the first place he reviewed the
wet, b ,draggled Emancipation pa
rade, which was well nigh divest-
ed of all it's glory by the torrents
of rain. He accorded a special re-
ception to the Madison Square
theatrical company, and attended
their performance for the benefit
of the ACTORS Fund.-" he made
several important appointments,
had a conference with the new
Pacific Railroad Commissioners,
who have arrivedi in the city, and,
never neglecting his tri-weekly
hand-shakings for the public, has
been interviewed each day private
lily, by q score or more of public
men, politicians and friends.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission now occupy their perma-
nent quarters in a handsome new
building with a white marble front,
on F street. At last the Commits
sion has decided upon and APP
pointed its Secretary, Mr.. Mosely,
who was found in Boston. He is
a Democrat and a member of the
Massachusetts, State Legislature
He is also a lumber merchant and
has had valuable experience in the
railroad business.
The time of the Commission is
taken up with the consideration
of the complaints and petitions
before them, and with the recep-
ton of visitors, the petitioners and
complainers, who come in person.
The Commission has been receiv-
ing letters on all sorts of irrelevant
subjects from different parts of the
United States, and, becoming tired
of answering conundrums, not
arising from specific complaints
(which the law authorizes them to
consider, they have just published
a statement of the limits of their
Jurisdiction and powers.
This important utterance of the
Commission, while it apparently
avoids the questions to which it is
applied and refers the questioners
Ito the railroads and courts for the
preliminary and ultimate construc-
tions of the law. points out the
methods by which such questions
can come before them, and makes
a suggestion, which, if observed
will prevent ninety-nine out of one
hundred of such questions from
ever arising.
The fruitful cause of these CO
nundrums is the attitude of the
railroads, which enforce vigorous
lily, promptly and literally every
thing in the law that can possibly
tend to swell their revenues, en-
deavor to suspend or avoid every
thing which can reduce their char
ges, and fall into a panic-stricker
condition at the idea of running
the risk Of a penalty by giving
Liberal construction to the clauses
authorizing reduced rates in Ger
tain cases. With many of the
roads the purpose is two-fold, tt
make money and to create dis
comforts which may be attributed
to the law, bringing to it, if posi-
bic, unpopularity and repeal.
The Commission says that there
is nothing novel in the provisions
of the law establishing the genera.
principles under which Interstate
Commerce must now be conduct
ed. They simply bring back the
business of the common carriers
to the well settled principles o.
1.-THE common law.
;. Since l last wrote you Spring
has arrived in Washington ano
with it renewed interest in the Ma
tional Drill which takes place mex
month. Preparations for the event
are being carried briskly forward
and it is learned that some of the
companies, will arrive considera'
bly, in advance of the time of the
Encampment. The Monument
grounds are being put in readiness
for the camp, and grand stands are
being erected for spectators around
the ellipse on which the contest
for prizes will be held. Nearly
one hundred organizations will
come from almost every State in
the. Union.
Some of the citizens of Wash.
ington are completely frustrated
over the enforcement of some old
laws which it was thought were Sc
useless from disuse that they could
not be used. They are the old
Sunday closing laws, which re-
quire that all places of business
where anything is done or sold
for profit, except apothecary shops
and undertaking establishments:
shall be Theoretically sealed on
the first day of the week. The au-
thorities have resurrected these
laws from the statute book which
has been so long ignored, and are
enforcing them vigorously.
In view Of the great influx oil
strangers expected here during the
time of the National Drill, some
earnest appeals have been made by
the leading hotel proprietors and
other public spirited citizens fol
relief from the operations of thai
ordinance against Sunday shaw
ing; passed, as they say, when this
extensive metropolis was nothing
more than q GOOD sized country